Hair clipping instrument



Dec. 9, 1941. A. A. MARTIN HAIR CLIPPING INSTRUMENT Fil e d Oct. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 143.15: I nvenfor A. H. MflBT/N 12 wttormay Dec. 9, 1941. A. A. MARTIN ,2 8

HAIR CLIPPING INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2"

aitorfiey 4 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR CLIPPING INSTRUMENT Angus A. Martin, Dorchestcr, Mass. Application October 20, 1937, Serial No. 169,998

15 Claims.

This invention relates to hair-cutting instruments of the clipper type wherein two sets of cooperating teeth or shearing edges engage and sever the hair therebetween. Hair cutting clippers operating on this principle have been known and in use for years, and closer cutting instruments commonly known as dry shavers have more recently come into use. These latter instruments, by employing relatively thin guard teeth, sever the hair closely adjacent to the skin surface, it being understood that it is desirable to sever the hair as closely as possible since the character of the shave depends largely upon this approximation. My Patent No. 2,222,317, dated November 19, 1940, discloses an improved instrument of this nature for dry shaving" close to the skin and one object of my invention herein is the production of a further improved instrument of that nature.

These clipper type instruments employ a stationary toothed member and cooperating therewith is a toothed member arranged to have a relative shearing movement. In accordance with my present invention one of the shearing members comprises a resilient blade or blade-like member, preferably of U-shape, arranged conveniently to snap into position on the supporting head of the instrument and retain its operative position thereon solely through the resilient grip of the member on the head. This shearing member may be the blade or a member cooperating with the blade and holding the blade in position on the supporting head. In either case,

the blade is mounted for reciprocation relative to the stationary shearing teeth cooperating therewith and, in one preferred form of the invention, anti-friction means supports the blade for free reciprocation on the head and said U- shaped resilient member removably secures the blade in such position. The production of such an improved instrument in which the resilient member may be easily snapped into operative position on the head and as conveniently removed therefrom comprises one object of the invention.

This blade supporting head is Preferably provided with guard means for the clipping teeth and the stationary clipping teeth may be an integral part of the head or may be provided by the employment of an independent member cooperating with the blade. A further feature of my invention relates to such a member, preferably of U-shape and resilient, adapted to cooperate with the head and blade to shield the blade from the skin being shaved and assist in holdin the blade in clipping position on the head. In 55 one preferred form of the invention, this member is provided with clipping teeth cooperating with the clipping teeth of the blade, both sets of teeth being located rearwardly of the protective guard means on the forward edge of the head. This member, as well as the blade, is preferably U- shaped and conveniently removable from the head.

.As in my said copending application, the supporting head of my improved instrument is preferably mounted for pivotal adjustment to different angular positions and the resilient blade and U-shaped member are adapted to serve their functions in all positions of head adjustment.

A further feature of the invention relates to means carried by the head and projecting outwardly from the front face thereof adjacent to and rearwardly of the clipping area of the teeth for engaging the skin being shaved and drawing it rearwardly as the instrument moves forwardly over the skin. Such projecting means may conveniently be formed as an integral part of the forward portion of the resilient member where it engages the blade and as so formed serves conveniently to draw the skin rearwardly and the hair into the clipping teeth.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an instrument embodying one form of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fi 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the head shown in Fi i modifl 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of a ed form of the invention, g. 6 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view thereof taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the use of the instrument,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation, partially broken away, of a further modified form of the invention,

Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line |I--ll MM. 9,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view thereof,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line Iii-I3 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary front elevation, parcent lug I5.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line ll6 of Fig. 14, and

Fig. 16 is a side elevation thereof. Referring first to the form of my invention 3 illustrated in Figs. 1-4, I indicates a body mem- 1 her on which is mounted a blade supporting head i or comb plate l2. The head is mounted for pivotal adjustment on a pintle l4 carried by and iextending between two spaced lugs l5 integral with a plate I'I fixed to the body Hi, the two 3 supporting lugs ii of the head being in contact 1 with the inner faces of the lug I5. The head 1 is held in two positions of pivotal adjustment, in- 3 dicated by full and broken lines in Fig. 2, by 5 means of a detent carried by one of the lugs l6 1 and cooperating with depressions [8 in the adja- The pintle I4 is held in place by clips I! pivotally mounted on the head at 20.

My improved blade 23 is preferably of ushape, having a front leg 24 and a rear leg 25. I The forward edge portion of the front leg is slotted at 26 to produce a plurality of fingers 28 and the free end of each finger is notched to form two clipping teeth 30. The front face of i the head I2 is grooved along the teeth 22 in a 1 manner forming fiat surfaces 3| thereon in a 1 common plane and protective shoulders 32 on 1 the teeth forwardly of these surfaces. The f depth of this groove is substantially the thickness of the blade, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 1 3. The forward edge of the rear leg 25 is bent 1 inwardly at 34 to be received within a groove 35 formed across the rear face of the head, the

j relation of the parts being such that, when the blade is thus positioned, the clipping teeth 30 Q rest flatly on the surfaces 3! rearwardly of the shoulders 32. In such position the closed rear j portion of the blade is carried on a sleeve 36 freely slidable on the pintle l4.

1 The blade may be reciprocated by a motor 4,5 I carried by the body It, the motor operating on j the blade through a lever 38 pivoted at 39. The 1 front end of the lever extends through a slot 46 in the blade and into a like slot 42 in the sleeve 36, these slots being of an extent permitting 5o pivotal adjustment of the head to the positions indicated in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that oscillatory movement of the lever serves to reciprocate the blade along the groove 35 and that such groove serves to locate and hold the blade 55 in proper, working position. The instrument may be used for either clipping or dry shave ing, it being apparent that engagement of the rear face of the head with the skin. will leave a relatively long hair stubble while engagement of the front face of the head with the skin will clip the hair closely adjacent to the skin. The blade may be removed and replaced merely by displacing one of the plates l9, removing the pintle l4, and then sliding the blade from the head and sleeve.

In Figs. 5-8, I have illustrated a somewhat modified form of the invention wherein a blade supporting head 50 is mounted for pivotal movement on a pintle l4 in like manner as that illustrated in Fig. 1. A U-shaped blade 52 is mounted on the head and has clipping teeth 53 cooperating with the teeth 54 of the head, the rear edge 56 of the blade being seated for longitudi- 1 The forward portion of the head may be bevelled I to V-shape and is serrated to form relatively spaced guard teeth 22.

This form of the invention, as thus far described, is substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1-4.

Also cooperating with the head and superposed over the blade 52 is a resilient U-shaped shield 58. The front leg of the shield is slotted at 59 to produce a plurality of fingers 60 having their free ends resting onthe blade fingers 62, the slots 59 alternating with the slots 63 in the blade. The rear edge 64 of the shield is bent inwardly and rests in a groove in the head and the U portion of the shield is supported on arouate portions 66 of the head 50. Thus the blade is firmly supported on the head in the position illustrated. The blade is reciprocated by the lever 38 engaged within a recess in the blade, the shield also being recessed at 61 to provide clearance for the lever movements.

The blade engages the head only along the teeth 53 and at its rear edge 58. The shield 58 engages only that portion of the blade rearwardly of and extending along the teeth 53, such engagement assisting in holding the teeth 53 in firm contact with the teeth 54. The shield provides anon-reciprocating part for engaging the skin being shaved, it being understood that the instrument can be, used with or without the shield, as each individual user may prefer.

It will also be noted that the free ends of the fingers 60 are turned outwardly at 68 whereby providing means projecting outwardly of the front face of the head adjacent to and rearwardly of the clipping area of the teeth for engaging the skin being shaved and drawing it rearwardly as the instrument moves forwardly over the skin. The function of these projections is illustrated in Fig. 8. As the instrument moves forwardly over the skin 10 in the direction of the arrow, the projections press the skin inwardly whereby drawing it rearwardly. such action serving to draw the skin taut in the area of the clipping action and pulling the hair toward and into better cutting relation with the teeth.

In Figs. 9-13 I have illustrated another form of the invention which embodies various novel and valuable features. The head 12 is supported on a pintle 14 carried at its ends in the two arms of a yoke I5, the pintle having a cquare end (Fig. 10) to prevent its rotation in the yoke. The yoke is permanently secured to a strap 16 having resilient arms 11 arranged to engage a body member 18, pins 19 carried by the strap being adapted to engage in sockets formed in the body member. A blade-reciprocating lever projects outwardly of the member and through openings 8| in the strap. and yoke.

The head 12 is formed from a plate bent upon itself to provide outer and inner legs and an eye for engaging the pintle, the eye being slitted at 83 and bent inwardly to form a frictional contact with the pintle. The two legs are in engagement along their parallel portions and the free ends are bent forwardly at 82 and 84. A blade 85 has relatively large and long teeth 86 formed on and along its forward edge, and its rear portion is bent to U-shape to extend around the pintle engaging portion of the head but free from engagement therewith (Fig. 11). The head is provided with two longitudinal grooves 88 and two wings 89 cut from the blade are adapted to slidably engage in these grooves, and engagement of the free rear edge 90 of the blade with the head is adapted resiliently to hold the nal reciprocation within a groove in the head. 75 blade onto the head and the wings engaged within the grooves. In such position-the blade rests with relatively'light pressure on the end 82 of the head between two lugs 8I thereon, the blade the free edge of its front leg cooperating with the clipping teeth 88 of the blade and having its rear edge 88 in resilient engagement with the rear face of the head. The ends of the U-portion of this member rest on discs 81 carried on the pintle and the member is held in position by notches cut in the edges thereof and engaging over th lugs 8|. The resiliency of the member holds it in firm position on the head with its teeth 80 in register with the guard teeth 82. The blade is notched at 88 to receive the blade-reciprocating lever 80 and the member 84 and head 12 and also cut away at 88 and I00 to provide clearance for the lever movements.

As best illustrated in Fig. 12, the guard teeth 82 are located just forwardly of the clipping teeth 88 and 85 and the teeth 80 are preferably beveled down toward their free ends so that the portion thereof where clipping of the hair takes place is very thin thus assuring a closer out than could otherwise be obtained. The instrument may be used for clipping by engagingth face 80 with the skin being clipped.

In Figs. 14-16, I have illustrated a further reflnement of the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 9-13, the prime purpose thereof being to relieve the blade reciprocation of all unnecessary friction. The blade supporting head I02 may be constructed of a metal strap bent to the shape illustrated and having guard teeth I00 along its forward edge and an eye I08 on its rear edge engaging the pintle I08. Pivoted to the head adjacent to each end thereof at I01 is an arm I08 carrying an upstanding stud I08 at its free end. A blade IIO has clipping teeth III along its forward edge and is provided with two pivot holes at its ends for receiving the studs I08. The blade is preferably U-shaped to extend about the rear portion of the head and is mounted on th studs for free reciprocation on the head.

Preferably the blade contacts with the head only at its engagement with the studs I08 whereby the blade is floatingly mounted on the arms I08 for free reciprocation. A U-shaped resilient member H2 is superposed over the blade and head and has clipping teeth I at the forward edge of one leg cooperating with the clipping teeth of the blade. The rear leg of this member engages the head at I I8 whereby resiliently pressing the teeth Ill into clipping contact with the blade teeth III. Two V-shaped detents II8 are provided at the ends of the head for engaging corresponding recesses in the member I I 2, to hold the member in place on the head, the member being removable by pressing the rear portion thereof in a direction to lift the member from these detents. The blade and resilient holding member are recessed at II! to receive the blade reciprocating lever II8.

It will be apparent that the arms I08 provide anti-friction means supporting the blade for free reciprocation on the head, the only friction being in the pivotal engagement of the arms with the head and the contacting engagement of the two sets of clipping teeth. Attention is furthermore called to the rear ends I20 of the arms I08 which engage beneath the rear edge of the head member 2 on the free ends of the arms and firevlenting contact of said free .ends with the It will b noted that the head I02 is shaped to provide a substantial pocket I22 therein entirely across the head beneath the clipping teeth. This pocket is adapted to receive the clippings and the arms I08 adjacent to the head serve to aid in keeping the clippings in the pocket during the shaving operation, it being apparent that, if desired, other means may be provided to form further end walls for the pocket or the arms may bifignstructed more substantially to form such w Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hair-cutting instrument, comprising a supporting head, a U-shaped blade having legs at opposite faces of the head and having clip ping teeth along the forward edge of one leg, the blade having a tongue and groove connection with the head locating the blade with said teeth parallel with the groove and permitting reciprocating movement of the blade longitudinally of the groove, means providing clipping teeth cooperating with the first-named teeth, and means for reciprocating the blade.

2. A hair-cutting instrument,. comprising a supporting head having guard means extending along the forward edge thereof and mounted for pivotal movement about an axis located adjacent to the rear edge thereof and parallel with the guard means, a U-shaped blade extending about said rear edge, enveloping the head between the two legs thereof and having clipping teeth along the forward edge of one leg, means providing clipping teeth cooperating with the first-named teeth, and means providing a relative clipping movement between the twosets of teeth when said head is adjusted to different pivotal positions about said axis.

3. A hair-cutting instrument, comprising a supporting head having guard means extending along the forward edge thereof and clipping two legs thereof and having clipping teeth along the forward edge of one leg cooperating with the first-named clipping teeth, and means for reciprocating the blade in a direction parallel to the two sets of teeth.

4. A hair-cutting instrument, comprising a supporting head having teeth projecting forwardly from the forward edge thereof, the front face of the head being grooved along said teeth and providing flat surfaces thereon in a common plane and protective shoulders on the teeth forwardly of the surfaces, a U-shaped blade resiliently engaging the head between the two legs thereof and having clipping teeth along the forward edge of one leg and held in fiat engagement with said surfaces by the resiliency of the whereby resisting downward pressure of the blade, and means for reciprocating the blade parallel to the two sets of teeth.

5. A hair-cutting instrument comprising a supporting head having guard means extending along its forward edge, a blade mounted on the head and having clipping teeth on its forward edge located rearwardly of the guard means, a U-shaped resilient member carried by and straddling the head and having one leg engaging the outer face of the blade and resiliently holding it on the head, means providing clipping teeth cooperating with the first-named teeth, and

means providing a. relative cliiml l .reciproca tion between'the two sets of teeth.

8. A hair-cutting instrument comprising a' supmosses means for reciprocating the blade and relative to said member.

" ii. A hair-cutting instrument comprising a jporting head having guard means extending jalong its forward edge. a blade mounted on the head and having clipping teeth on its forward edge located rearwardly of the guard means and a portion'located in a groove in the head parjallel with the guard means whereby holding the blade-for reciprocation along the groove, a U-.

resilient member carried by and stradidling the head and having one leg the ;outer face of the blade and resiliently holding it on the head. means providing clipping teeth cooperating with the first-named teeth. and

means for reciprocating the blade along the groove. 1 3 "I. Ahair-cutting instrument, comprisingasupiporting head. a U-shaped blade having oppoj'sitely legs the head there- Q between and having clipping teeth along the forward edge of one leg, a U-shapedresilient member superposed over the-blade and having one leg resiliently engaging theouter face or the blade adjacent to said teeth, means providing 3 clipping teeth cooperating with the first-named teeth, and means for reciprocating the blade.

- 8. A hair-cutting instrument, comprising a suphead havingguardmeans extending alongtheforwardedgethereoLaU-shapedblade jhaving oppositely disposed legs engagingthe hhead therebetween and having clipping teeth ,ialongtheforwardedgeofonelegandrearward- 1y. ot the guard means, ail-shaped resilient member-superposed over the head and having one ileg resiliently the outer face of the iblade. adjacent to said teeth. means providing clipping teeth rearwardly of the guard means cooperating with the first-named teeth, and means for reciprocating the blade relative to the second-namedteeth.

I 9. A hair-cutting instrument comprising a sup- 3 porting head, a U-shaped blade positioned over gthe-head with thehead located between the two 1 legs of the bladeand having 011991 8 teethalong Q the forward edge of one leg, a U-shaped resilsupporting head having guard means extending along its forward edge. a U-shaped blade positioned overthe head with the head located between the two legs 0f.the blade. and having clipping teeth along the forward-edge of one I leg, anti-friction means supporting the blade for [member superposed over the blade andhaving reciprocationontheheada U-shapedresilient clipping teeth along the forward edge of one leg 1 and-having its other leg engaging the head and holding said 0119] teeth in clipp engagement with the first-named teeth. and means for reciprocating the blade .within and relative to 1 ient member sup rposed over the bladeand hav- 7 ilegandhaving itsotherleg the-head 1 and holding saidclipping teethin clipping en- =gagement withtheiirst-named teeth,andmeans tosaid member.

10.- A hair-cutting for reciprocation on the head, a U-shaped resilientmember superposed over the blade and having clipping teeth along the forward edge of 1 head and holding said clipping teeth in clipsupporting head. a blade mounted on the head' and having clipping teeth at its forward edge, I a plurality of anti-friction elements between-the 1 blade and the head and. supporting the blade' 3 teeth alongtheforward edge'oi one I 3 for reciprocating the ,blade within and relative instrument comprising a I one leg and having its other leg engaging the ping t with the first-named teeth, and

v 12. A shaving instrument comprislng a supthe outer face of theblade, said one leg havgit geese.

closedendandhavingthetwolegsthereedge of one leg, said clippin teeth forward'edge being one extremity of fromwhichthememberisformed.

clipping teeth th, a plurality of anti-friction'arms pivoted on the for movement about ales extending transverseporting by portions of thearms remote from the said axes and in a position causing pivotal swinging movement of the arms about said area as the blade is reciprocated, means providing clippinl teeth cooperating with the first-named teeth, and means for reciprocatingthe blade.

, ANGUS A. MARTIN. 

